Halloween 2012 Has Arrived!

On my little vacation retreat to the Trout House, I was busy getting family Halloween cards ready to mail.  I just love all the fun papers, stamps, and embellishments available for this holiday.  With no computer access, I had to wait to finish my inside verses after I got home.  Here are a couple of samples of what I was up to:

 Enjoy...Happy Halloween, Jackie!

This ones for Mark & Ginger...

enjoy all the creatures that come visiting with your card!

Fun in 2012 - A Family Scrapping Retreat

We had the very best time!  Ladies in the family took a week-long papercrafting retreat to a wonderful vacation rental in northern California.  The house to aptly named, "Trout House!"  All of the furnishings and decor are a fishing motif, right down to the wicker fishing basket on the back of the toilet with the bear peeking out in the midst of lotions and shampoos!  Here is a look at what is becoming a ladies favorite for a little rest and relaxation while we indulge in our favorite hobby...cardmaking!   Of course, we have to move a bit of furniture to set up our cropping tables, but it doesn't take away from the cute decor, the rushing river sounds below the backyard embankment, the train whistles across the river bed below, the chirping birds, or pitter-patter of squirrels moving about in the trees!

Motorcycle Man for a BIG 2012 Birthday!

Our youngest son, Mark, has always loved to ride motorcycles since he got on a bike with his Dad as a very young boy.  By the time he was eight years old, Dad had bought him a small motorcycle that he loved to ride around and around our shy-acre yard.  He so loved the feel of the wind on his face as he zoomed every which direction on the property! (Note:  It kind of scared the heck out of me!)  He progressed to dirt-bike riding as a teenager and has been going strong every since.  

On that note and for his 30th birthday, I thought it appropriate to make a birthday card depicting this major hobby in his life.  Mark recently replaced his old dirt bike with a bright red-orange one.  I found a cartoon digi image that almost looks just like Mark's tall, lanky, 6 ft. 2 in. frame jumping on his bike to go for a fast ride!  I didn't like the way he was facing, so I flipped the digi on my computer before re-sizing and printing to get started.  Copic markers helped bring the whole image to life!  As I finished putting it together, my first looked said, "Darn! Why didn't I stitched the outer plaid paper edge with my sewing machine...I think it would have added a lot to the look of the finished card, but I just wasn't willing to take it all apart to get down to what should have been Step 1...LOL!!!   I hope Mark likes his card...it is so him!

Happy Birthday Mark!  Enjoy your day!

Sister-in-Law Birthdays in October 2012!

Yes, you can believe it...TWO of my husband's sisters have birthdays in October and only one day apart, but several years between!  I so love fall cards, and I am thankful that I have a reason to make cards for this season as I do not send them for Thanksgiving!  I made the following two cards from a card kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (www.mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com).  Heidi is a wonderful teacher, as she lets her "students" tweak and personalize their cards to fit personal preferences.  This first card became a square rather than a rectangle by enlarging it and adding a cream edge and ribbon embellishment.  The front sentiment has been changed to fit a birthday greeting.  I decorated the inside to coordinate with the front and added a personal verse or poem using my computer.  I hope my sister-in-law, June, likes her card.  Her birthday is special, because she shares the same birth date as my son, Mark!

And, the inside verse:

Happy birthday June...hope your day is very special!

Next is Judy's birthday...one day later!  Again, I was able to use a fall card from the kit Heidi Gonzales designed!  I only tweaked the size, making the card square instead of rectangle, and changed the front sentiment to fit a birthday.  The card's design remains true to the original...such a wonderful design!  Once again, I decorated the inside to coordinate with the front, adding a personalized verse.

And, its inside verse:

Happy birthday Judy...I hope your day is wonderful!